K. K. Yeo - Theologies of Land: Contested Land, Spatial Justice, and Identity

O ver a period of six years, K. K. Yeo (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary), Steve Pardue (Asia Graduate School of Theology), and Gene Green (Wheaton College and Graduate School) brought together forty biblical scholars and theologians from the Majority World, along with six Euro-American theologians, to present their reflections on the Christian faith. Each interacted with the historic creeds of the church and undertook contextualized theological work on the Christian faith, surveying developments in their regions and presenting their own constructive theology. Their joint work focused on six traditional theological locithe doctrines of God (Trinity), christology, pneumatology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatologyand their essays became the Majority World Theology Series, now published by Langham Literature and IVP Academic (originally by Eerdmans). This monumental global series sought to further international theological dialog and encourage non-Majority World scholars and students to listen deeply to the fresh voices and developments in what Andrew Walls and Justo Gonzlez called a global new Reformation or macro Reformation.

During the yearly gatherings that produced the Majority World Theology Series, an awareness grew that other theological topics required attention. These were not the traditional loci of Euro-American thought but theologies worked out in the crucible of daily life in diverse global and minority communities. The theologies did not appear in the majority of publishers stock lists and regularly assigned theological texts, they did not find place within theological curricula, and they did not appear in most course work in biblical and theological studies. The topics were varied and vital, the stuff of a true theology on the road, that place where life is tensely lived, as John Mackay said in his Preface to Christian Theology. Themes such as land, migration, identity, and others are vital human concerns that cry for theological reflection. The Crosscurrents in Majority World and Minority Theology series is an attempt to bring together notable biblical scholars and theologians who are undertaking critical contextual work on these and other topics. This is part of the ongoing dialog among Majority World scholars from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and Indigenous communities alongside those from Minority communities in North America who together will soon become the majority voices in their contexts theological reflection.

The first volume in the series, Theologies of Land, could not have come into existence without the collaboration of many committed individuals and communities. The first thanks goes to the authors in this volume. Mitri Rahab represents the Palestinian Christian community, Oscar Garca-Johnson from Honduras gives voice to Latin American and Latinx reflection, Cree-Anishinaabe scholar Danny Zacharias represents the First Nations concerns, and Hulisani Ramantswana stands for the Christian community in South Africa. Walter Brueggemann is one of the best-known North American scholars who has written on a theology of land and honors us with his voice in the Introduction to this volume. K. K. Yeo not only drew together the varied voices in the summary Conclusion but adds his own reflection as a Chinese scholar who works at the intersection of the theologies of land and identity. We all owe a special note of thanks to the institutions they represent that helped fund the authors participation in this global dialog.

Evan Hunter, Vice President of ScholarLeaders International, secured additional funding for the gathering, including a greatly appreciated luncheon where dialog continued. The discussion on the theologies of land took place at the 2019 meeting of the Institute of Biblical Research, an organization that has heartily supported this and previous discussions on Majority World and Minority biblical studies and theology. Two publishers have made the Crosscurrents in Majority World and Minority Theology series available to students and scholars throughout the globe. Together we offer hearty thanks to Pieter Kwant, Luke Lewis, and Vivian Doub of Langham Literature and Michael Thomson of Cascade Books. Their labors, encouragement, and patience bring us no end of joy.

Finally, thank you, good reader , for walking along on this journey and listening deeply. Lessons abound along this road. You will see.